Bundesliga debutants Elversberg made a memorable start to life in Germany’s top division by claiming a remarkable 3-2 home win against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
Lukas Petkov and Cole Campbell found the net within a minute of one another, giving Elversberg a two-goal advantage before 10 minutes had been played. David Mokwa added a third shortly after half-time, delighting the 9,307 supporters in attendance.
Late strikes from Patrik Schick and Christian Kofane gave Leverkusen hope, but Elversberg held firm to complete a historic triumph over the club that finished its title-winning 2024 campaign unbeaten.
With only around 13,000 residents, Elversberg is the smallest community ever represented in the Bundesliga. The Ursapharm-Arena is currently operating with a limited capacity while renovation work is carried out to satisfy top-flight stadium requirements.
Captain Lukas Pinckert described the occasion as impossible to put into words, adding that Elversberg had worked tirelessly to reach the division, fully merited the result and had made him immensely proud of his teammates.
Leverkusen appeared short of intensity and organisation for much of the contest, leaving new manager Carles Martínez Novell with plenty to address. The Spanish coach replaced Kasper Hjulmand during the summer after departing French club Toulouse.
RB Leipzig secured a comfortable 3-0 home victory against Borussia Mönchengladbach, while former Chelsea and France attacker Christopher Nkunku provided an assist in his first appearance since returning to Leipzig.
Ridle Baku put Leipzig ahead in the first half despite Gladbach having enjoyed the better of the early play. Antonio Nusa’s superb finish soon after the interval gave the hosts control, before substitute Nkunku created a goal for former Gladbach player Rocco Reitz only two minutes after entering the match.
Union Berlin recovered from a 3-1 deficit to earn a 3-3 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt, denying the visitors victory despite Younes Ebnoutalib scoring three times. Tim Skarke rescued a point for Union in the third minute of added time.
Cologne twice fought back from behind to defeat Hoffenheim 3-2, with substitute Thijs Dallinga scoring twice and young winger Said El Mala producing an outstanding individual goal. In another match, Mainz and newly promoted Paderborn finished goalless.
Juventus defeated Parma 2-0 to record a second successive victory at the beginning of the Serie A campaign. Meanwhile, Fiorentina marked their centenary with a disappointing 3-0 home loss to promoted Frosinone.
Juventus were made to battle for the points, with second-half substitutes Nicolás González and Teun Koopmeiners scoring the goals that eventually settled the contest.
Summer arrivals Randal Kolo Muani and Jhon Lucumi were both named in the starting lineup, while 18-year-old Bosnian Kerim Alajbegovic impressed after coming off the bench for his debut.
Several celebrated former players and coaches, among them Gabriel Batistuta and Claudio Ranieri, attended the occasion in Florence. However, Fiorentina were unable to respond to the previous weekend’s 4-0 opening defeat at Roma. Antonio Raimondo scored twice for Frosinone, with Gabriele Bracaglia adding the other goal.
In Ligue 1, Gessime Yassine scored both goals as Strasbourg overturned a deficit to beat Lens 2-1 at home, bringing the visitors’ encouraging opening to the season to an end. Lens went ahead in the 38th minute after Jeyland Mitchell brought down Abdallah Sima inside the area, allowing captain Florian Thauvin to confidently convert the penalty.
Strasbourg responded strongly after the interval, drawing level three minutes into the second half through Yassine’s deflected effort. A 56th-minute goal was disallowed for offside, but the home side eventually found a deserved winner when Sebastian Nanasi delivered a cross that Yassine volleyed into the net.
Atlético Madrid set aside the ongoing speculation surrounding Julián Alvarez by earning an assured 3-1 victory away to Sevilla, a result that lifted them to the top of the early La Liga standings. Diego Simeone’s team have collected seven points from their opening three league fixtures.
Atlético have repeatedly dismissed suggestions that Alvarez could join Barcelona, while the Argentine has also been strongly connected with Arsenal. He was omitted from the squad for the trip to Seville after receiving boos from sections of the home support during the previous weekend’s 2-2 draw with Villarreal.
The two attackers selected in Alvarez’s place combined effectively to open the scoring after four minutes. Summer recruit Lee Kang-in, signed from Paris Saint-Germain, sent Álex Baena through with a precise pass, and Baena drove a low finish into the goal.
The Rojiblancos made it 2-0 in the 26th minute when Ademola Lookman guided an intelligent effort inside the near post of Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Seven minutes later, Atlético extended their lead to three goals through Baena’s second of the match. After receiving the ball from Marcos Llorente, the Spanish World Cup winner struck from outside the penalty area into the bottom corner.
Sevilla showed greater purpose following the break and reduced the deficit with a Miguel Sierra volley, although they never seriously threatened to complete a recovery.
Real Betis lost the opportunity to maintain their flawless opening and temporarily move to the top of La Liga after suffering a 5-2 defeat away to Levante. Dela gave the hosts the lead with a glancing header, but central defender Marc Bartra soon equalised with a forceful shot from the edge of the box.
Enzo Bardeli restored Levante’s advantage during first-half added time by lifting a long-range effort over Betis goalkeeper Álvaro Valles. Rodrigo Riquelme then levelled from a corner before the interval. Roger Brugué scored twice after the restart to put Levante in command, and Jon Ander Olasagasti completed the victory with a late header.
Real Sociedad collected their first points of the campaign by defeating Espanyol 2-1 at home.
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